Suzanna C Chevalier

'We Don'T Smile In Here' - Poem by Suzanna C Chevalier

I think this is a sad factthat you are not suppose to smileto be happy or to laugh.Even for mug shots they want you to look bad—“Don’t smile and look like a criminal? Does that make inmate feel glad? ”Why should jail be a place of gloom? I know they don’t want you to come backbut I feel that is something that they “all assume”.Most inmates feel their name has been ruinedeven before you get out your mug shot is up real soon.Public records “They do say”Well, I think that is like slander, gossip and mug shotsshould Not have their day.Not at least for inmates who are not a harm to everyonethis can ruin their image and make you hide from the sun.Getting back to “They don’t want you to come back”but it seems jail makes you feel less than, be defensiveand feel like a criminal on the attack.So your heart gets hardened when you are treated this wayI think we should think how we run our jails this very present day.